Wearable electronc device for determining user health status

ABSTRACT

Particular embodiments described herein provide for a wearable electronic device, such as a bracelet, coupled to a plurality of electronic components (which may include any type of components, elements, circuitry, etc.). One particular implementation of a wearable electronic device may include a plurality of sensors configured to measure at least one health parameter of a first user associated with the wearable electronic device, and a control module in communication with the plurality of sensors. The control module includes a processor configured to receive a plurality of health parameter measurements from at least a subset of the plurality of sensors, and determine a general health state of the first user based upon the received health parameter measurements.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Embodiments described herein generally relate to a wearable electronicdevice for determining user health status.

BACKGROUND

End users have more electronic device choices than ever before. A numberof prominent technological trends are currently afoot (e.g., mobileelectronic devices, smaller electronic devices, increased userconnectivity, etc.), and these trends are changing the electronic devicelandscape. One of the technological trends currently afoot is electronicdevices that can be worn by users, sometimes referred to as wearableelectronic devices. Wearable electronic devices can be worn on a user'swrist, arm, ankle, etc. Although wearable electronic devices exist thatare able to provide body condition information, such as a heart rate ofa wearer, these existing device have limited ability to collect accuratedata and provide meaningful feedback to the user regarding the user'shealth condition.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments are illustrated by way of example and not by way oflimitation in the FIGURES of the accompanying drawings, in which likereferences indicate similar elements and in which:

FIGS. 1A-1C are simplified views illustrating a wearable electronicdevice for determining user health status in accordance with oneembodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment of an example procedure for determininguser health status using a wearable electronic device;

FIG. 3 is a simplified block diagram illustrating example logic that maybe used to execute activities associated with wearable electronic devicein accordance with one embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a simplified block diagram illustrating an embodiment of acommunication system for wireless communication between a wearableelectronic device and a monitoring device;

FIGS. 5A-5C are simplified views illustrating a wearable electronicdevice for determining user health status in accordance with anotherembodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 6 illustrates an embodiment of an example procedure for determininguser health status using the wearable electronic device of FIGS. 5A-5C;

FIGS. 7A-7C are simplified views illustrating a monitoring device forreceiving user health status from a wearable electronic device inaccordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 8 illustrates an embodiment of an example procedure for receivinguser health status from a wearable electronic device using a monitoringdevice according to one embodiment; and

FIG. 9 is a simplified flow diagram illustrating potential operationsfor a wearable electronic device in accordance with one embodiment ofthe present disclosure.

The FIGURES of the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, as theirdimensions can be varied considerably without departing from the scopeof the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS Overview

Example embodiments described herein provide for a wearable electronicdevice, such as an electronic bracelet, that includes a circuit boardcoupled to a plurality of electronic components (which may include anytype of components, elements, circuitry, etc.). One particularimplementation of a wearable electronic device may include a pluralityof sensors configured to measure at least one health parameter of afirst user associated with the wearable electronic device, and a controlmodule in communication with the plurality of sensors. The controlmodule includes a processor configured to receive a plurality of healthparameter measurements from at least a subset of the plurality ofsensors, and determine a general health state of the first user basedupon the received health parameter measurements.

In at least one embodiment, the wearable electronic device furtherincludes a display configured to provide feedback indicative of thedetermined general health state to the first user. In still anotherembodiment, the processor is further configured to send a first messageincluding information indicative of the general health state to anelectronic device associated with a second user. In still anotherembodiment, the processor is further configured to receive a secondmessage from the electronic device associated with the second user,wherein the second message includes a request for additional informationfrom the first user. In another embodiment, the processor is furtherconfigured to send a third message to the electronic device associatedwith the second user, wherein the third message includes the requestedadditional information from the first user.

In another embodiment, the electronic device associated with the seconduser includes another wearable electronic device. In another embodiment,the processor is further configured to determine the general healthstate of the first user by determining an overall value for one or moreparticular health parameter measurements, and determining whether theoverall value of each health parameter measurement is at an acceptablelevel. In another embodiment, the processor is further configured toprovide feedback to the first user indicating that the first user hasachieved an optimal health state if each of the overall health parametermeasurements are determined to be at an acceptable level. In anotherembodiment, the wearable electronic device further includes a strapportion, wherein the plurality of sensors are disposed upon a portion ofa surface of the strap portion. In still another embodiment, theplurality of health measurements are associated with one or more healthparameters of the user, wherein each health parameter is configured tobe measured at a plurality of locations upon the surface of the strapportion.

In another embodiment, the plurality of sensors comprise a sensor array.In still another embodiment, at least one of the plurality of sensorsincludes at least one of a skin sensor, a temperature sensor, a pulsesensor and a galvanic skin response sensor. In still another embodiment,the at least one health parameter includes one or more of bodytemperature, air temperature, pulse, galvanic skin response, skinhealth, bone health, blood health, heart rate, oxygen level, and bloodpressure.

Another particular implementation of a wearable electronic device mayinclude a plurality of sensors configured to measure at least one healthparameter of a first user associated with the wearable electronicdevice, and a control module in communication with the plurality ofsensors with the control module including logic, at least a portion ofwhich is partially implemented in hardware. The logic may be configuredto receive a plurality of health parameter measurements from at least asubset of the plurality of sensors, and determine a general health stateof the first user based upon the received health parameter measurements.

Another particular implementation includes a method including receivinga plurality of health parameter measurements from a subset of aplurality of sensors of a wearable electronic device, wherein each ofthe plurality of sensors is configured to measure at least one healthparameter of a first user associated with the wearable electronicdevice. The method further includes determining, by the wearableelectronic device, a general health state of the first user based uponthe received health parameter measurements.

Example Embodiments

The following detailed description sets forth example embodiments ofapparatuses, methods, and systems relating to configurations for awearable electronic device for measuring. Features such as structure(s),function(s), and/or characteristic(s), for example, are described withreference to one embodiment as a matter of convenience; variousembodiments may be implemented with any suitable one or more of thedescribed features.

FIG. 1A is a simplified orthographic view illustrating a wearableelectronic device 10 for determining user health status in accordancewith one embodiment of the present disclosure. Wearable electronicdevice 10 can include a strap portion 12 having a first clasp portion 14a and a second clasp portion 14 b at opposing ends of strap portion 12.In at least one embodiment, first clasp portion 14 a and second claspportion 14 b are configured coupled together to allow wearableelectronic device 10 to be worn around a wrist of a user. In theembodiment illustrated in FIG. 1A, wearable electronic device 10 furtherincludes a housing portion 16 including a display screen 18 disposed onan upper surface of a housing thereof. Strap portion 12 includes asensor array 20 disposed upon a bottom surface thereof. Sensor array 20includes a plurality of skin sensors configured to measure one or morehealth parameters of a user via contact or proximity of to a skinsurface of the user while being worn. In accordance with variousembodiments, housing portion 16 includes a control module 22 havingcomponents, circuitry, and/or logic configured to receive the measuredone or more health parameters, determine a general health state of theuser based upon the received health parameters, and provide feedbackindicative of the determined general health state to the user viadisplay screen 18. In one or more embodiments, one or more of strapportion 12, housing portion 16, and display screen 18 may be composed ofa flexible material to allowing bending to facilitate wearing ofwearable electronic device 10 around the wrist or other body portion ofthe user.

In one or more embodiments, strap portion 12 may be of a solid unibodyconstruction having a decorative beaded pattern thereon (as shown inFIGS. 1A-1C) or may include links, chains, cables, weaves, combinationsthereof or the like. In some embodiments, wearable electronic device 10can include a strap that is formed as a solid strap without a latchportion. The ornamental design and material construction of strapportion 12 can be adjusted in any manner to suit any designer,manufacturer and/or vendor without departing from the scope of theembodiments described in the present disclosure.

In one or more embodiments, display screen 18 is a screen that can be aliquid crystal display (LCD) screen, transparent LCD screen,light-emitting diode (LED) display screen, transparent LED displayscreen, organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display screen, transparentLED display screen or any other suitable display screen system. Displayscreen 18 may also be a touchscreen display, which may include acapacitive or resistive touchscreen layer over the screen of displayscreen 18.

FIG. 1B is a simplified top plan view of wearable electronic device 10in which display screen 18 is shown disposed on the top surface ofhousing portion 16 so that it may be visible when wearable electronicdevice 10 is being worn by the user. FIG. 1C illustrates a simplifiedbottom view of wearable electronic device 10 in which the sensor array20 is shown on a bottom surface of strap portion 12 so that it may be incontact with a portion of the skin of the user when wearable electronicdevice 10 is being worn by the user.

In one or more embodiments, wearable electronic device 10 may furtherinclude a wireless communication module configured to communicate thedetermined general health state of the user with other wirelesselectronic devices such as a wireless communication device associatedwith the user or an electronic communication device associated withanother user. In a particular embodiment, the wireless communicationmodule may be located within housing portion 16. In at least oneembodiment, connecting of first clasp portion 14 a to second claspportion 14 b may initiate powering up of wearable electronic device 10.In still other embodiments, strap portion 12 may be constructed as agenerally ring shaped form with an open portion between ends tofacilitate placing of wearable electronic device 10 a upon a wrist of auser.

FIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment of an example procedure for determininguser health status using wearable electronic device 10. In theembodiment illustrated in FIG. 2 , wearable electronic device 10 is wornupon a wrist 30 of a user. The user may initiate a measurement procedurevia a touch input upon a graphical user interface (GUI) provided bydisplay screen 18. In response to the touch input, control module 22within housing portion 16 determines a subset of the sensors of sensorarray 20 to be utilized to measure one or more health parameters and/orbiometric parameters, and receives a plurality of health parametermeasurements from the determined subset sensors of sensor array 20. Forexample, health parameters measured by one or more sensors of sensorarray 20 may include one or more of temperature, pulse, galvanic skinresponse, skin health, bone health, blood health, heart rate, oxygenlevels, blood pressure or any other suitable health parameters. In aparticular embodiment, the sensors of sensory array 20 may include oneor more of temperature sensors for body temperature and/or airtemperature, pulse sensors to measure pulse rate, and/or galvanic skinresponse sensors for measuring, for example, stress. In a particularembodiment, the subset of the sensors includes all of the sensors ofsensor array 20.

In accordance with various embodiments, sensor array 20 may be used toimprove the accuracy of a determined health parameter. For example, thecontrol module 22 may calculate an average value or mean value of thereceived measurements for a particular health parameter, such as heartrate, to determine an overall value for the particular health parameter.In a particular embodiment, the sensor array 20 may be arrangedsubstantially around the entire bottom surface of strap portion 12 toallow substantially three hundred and sixty (360) degrees of measurementof health parameters around wrist 30. In one or more embodiments,sensory array 20 may include a repeated grid of sensors. In one or moreembodiments, sensor array 20 may include different types of sensors thatmay be arranged in a cluster, for example in a row or in a circle,around a single position on strap portion 12 in which the cluster ofsensors is considered as one sensor group. Because strap portion 12 maymove or slide around the wrist 30 of the user during use and no singlesensor can provide an accurate measurement all of the time during suchmovement, an array of sensor groups may be arranged to span the lengthof strap portion 12 to optimize the quality of the health parameterreadings. In a particular embodiment, each sensor in each group maymeasure a particular health parameter and control module 22 may includedlogic configured to coalesce the health parameter measurements into moreaccurate data to provide more accurate data than a single group ofsensors may provide. In a particular embodiment, a plurality of healthmeasurements are associated with one or more health parameters of theuser and each health parameter is configured to be measured at aplurality of locations upon the surface of strap portion 12 to provideredundancy and increase the accuracy of measurement of each healthparameter.

Control module 22 may be further configured to determine a generalhealth state for the user based using one or more algorithms based upona combination of the received health parameters, and store the generalhealth state in a memory. An example general health state algorithm mayinclude determining whether each overall value of each health parametermeasurement is at an acceptable level. If each of the overall healthparameter measurements are determined to be at an acceptable level,control module 22 may cause display screen 22 to indicate to the userthat the user has achieved an optimal “Prime” health state. Alternately,if the general health state of the user is determined to be poor, theuser may be provided with an indication of relative “poor” health.

In one or more embodiments, wearable electronic device 10 may includeone or more power management functions such as powering down to a lowerpower state after a measurement reading has been taken, periodicallydetermining a location of wearable electronic device 10, and poweringback up if movement has occurred. In one or more embodiments,information indicative of the general health state of the user may besent to another device either in a surrounding area or to a remotedevice over a network. In a particular embodiment, the informationindicative of the general health state of the user may be sent to asecond device configured to store the information in a database andalert and/or notify a second user of the second device of the generalhealth state of the user of wearable electronic device 10. The seconduser may include, in some examples, a nurse or doctor at a hospital, ora coach/trainer at an athletic event.

FIG. 3 is a simplified block diagram illustrating example logic that maybe used to execute activities associated with wearable electronic device10 in accordance with one embodiment. In at least one exampleembodiment, wearable electronic device 10 can include a touch inputdevice 302, a touch controller 304, a system memory 306, a non-volatilememory and/or storage 308, a power management controller 310,processor(s) 312, display controller 314, control module 22, andwireless communication module 316, each of which is coupled to systemcontrol logic 318. Display controller 314 is in further communicationwith display screen 18, and control module 22 is in furthercommunication with sensory array 20. In one or more embodiments, touchinput device 302, touch controller 304, system memory 306, non-volatilememory and/or storage 308, power management controller 310, processor(s)312, display controller 314, control module 22, wireless communicationmodule 316, system control logic 318, and display screen 18 may bedisposed at least partially within or upon a surface of housing 16.

Hence, the basic building blocks of any wearable electronic devicesystem (e.g., processor, controller, memory, I/O, display, etc.) can beused in conjunction with the teachings of the present disclosure.Certain components could be discrete or integrated into a System on Chip(SoC). In alternate implementations, instead of wearable electronicdevices, certain alternate embodiments deal with mobile phones, tabletdevices, etc.

System control logic 318, in at least one embodiment, can include anysuitable interface controllers to provide for any suitable interface toat least one processor 312 and/or to any suitable device or component incommunication with system control logic 318. System control logic 318,in at least one embodiment, can include one or more memory controllersto provide an interface to system memory 306. System memory 306 may beused to load and store data and/or instructions, for example, forwearable electronic device 10. System memory 306, in at least oneembodiment, can include any suitable volatile memory, such as suitabledynamic random access memory (DRAM) for example. System memory 306 maystore suitable software 320 and/or non-volatile memory and/or storagedevice(s).

Non-volatile memory and/or storage device(s) 308 may be used to storedata and/or instructions, for example within software 322. Non-volatilememory and/or storage device(s) 308 may include any suitablenon-volatile memory, such as flash memory for example, and/or mayinclude any suitable non-volatile storage device(s), such as one or morehard disc drives (HDDs), solid state drives (SSDs), etc. for example. Invarious embodiments, non-volatile memory and/or storage 308 includes adevice identifier 324 associated with wearable electronic device 10 touniquely identify wearable electronic device 10 from among other devicesthat may be associated with other users.

Power management controller 310 may include power management logic 326configured to control various power management and/or power savingfunctions. In at least one example embodiment, power managementcontroller 310 is configured to reduce the power consumption ofcomponents or devices of wearable electronic device 10 that may eitherbe operated at reduced power or turned off when the wearable electronicdevice is in an inactive state (e.g., not being accessed, etc.). Forexample, in at least one embodiment, when charm device wearableelectronic device 10 is in an inactive state, power managementcontroller 310 may perform one or more of the following: power down theunused portion of touch input device 302; allow one or more ofprocessor(s) 312 to go to a lower power state if less computing power isrequired during times of inactivity; power down display screen 18, andshutdown any devices and/or components that may be unused when wearableelectronic device 10 is in an inactive state. System control logic 318,in at least one embodiment, can include one or more I/O controllers toprovide an interface to any suitable input/output device(s).

For at least one embodiment, at least one processor 312 may be packagedtogether with logic for one or more controllers of system control logic318. In at least one embodiment, at least one processor 312 may bepackaged together with logic for one or more controllers of systemcontrol logic 318 to form a System in Package (SiP). In at least oneembodiment, at least one processor 312 may be integrated on the same diewith logic for one or more controllers of system control logic 318. Forat least one embodiment, at least one processor 312 may be integrated onthe same die with logic for one or more controllers of system controllogic 318 to form a System on Chip (SoC).

For touch input, touch controller 304 may include touch sensor interfacecircuitry 328 coupled to one or more touch sensor(s) 330 to detect touchinput(s) from the user upon display screen 18. Touch sensor interfacecircuitry 328 may include any suitable circuitry that may depend, forexample, at least in part on the touch-sensitive technology used fortouch input device 302.

Further for touch control, touch control logic 332 may be coupled totouch sensor interface circuitry 328 to help control touch sensorinterface circuitry 328 in any suitable manner to detect touch inputfrom the user. For touch control, touch control logic 332 for at leastone example embodiment may also be coupled to system control logic 318to output in any suitable manner digital touch input data correspondingto one or more touch inputs detected by touch sensor interface circuitry328. Touch control logic 332 may be implemented using any suitablelogic, including any suitable hardware, firmware, and/or software logic(e.g., non-transitory tangible media), that may depend, for example, atleast in part on the circuitry used for touch sensor interface circuitry328.

For touch control, touch control logic 332 may be coupled to systemcontrol logic 318 to output digital touch input data to system controllogic 318 and/or at least one processor 312 for processing. At least oneprocessor 312 for at least one embodiment may execute any suitablesoftware to process digital touch input data output from touch controllogic 332. Suitable software may include, for example, any suitabledriver software and/or any suitable application software. Displaycontroller 314 is configured to control the display functions of displayscreen 18.

Control module 22 includes logic 334 configured to receive healthparameter measurements from sensor array 20 and to perform the varioushealth status determination functions as described herein. In one ormore embodiments, wearable electronic device 10 can include wirelesscommunication module 316 (e.g., Wi-Fi module, Bluetooth™ module, nearfield communication (NFC) module, or other wireless communicationcircuitry) to allow wearable electronic device 10 to communicate withone or more other electronic devices (wearable or not wearable) on anetwork through a wireless connection. The wireless connection may beany 3G/4G/LTE cellular wireless connection, WiFi/WiMAX connection,Bluetooth™ connection, or some other similar wireless connection. In oneor more embodiments, the wireless communication circuitry can beconfigured to provide for two-way radio communications with anothertwo-way radio capable device. In an embodiment, a plurality of antennascan be provisioned in conjunction with charm device 16 a, which may beassociated with wireless connection activities. The antennas arereflective of electrical components that can convert electric currentsinto radio waves or radio signals. Wearable electronic device 10 mayinclude logic to determine a best mode of communication using varioussignal measurement techniques, including, but not limited to, wirelessbeacons (to locate one or more Wi-Fi networks), received signal strengthindicator (RSSI), link quality indicator (LQI), measurement reports forone or more 3G/4G/LTE cellular wireless connections, combinationsthereof or the like.

In one or more embodiments, wearable electronic device 10 may beconfigured to operate using a replaceable battery, or in some cases, maybe configured to operate using a rechargeable battery, each of which maybe housed in housing portion 16. In some embodiments, charm device 16 amay include charging contacts configured on the outer surface of housingportion 16, which can be used in combination with a charging device tofacilitate charging a rechargeable battery within wearable electronicdevice 10. Virtually any means may be used to provide power and/orcharging for wearable electronic device 10, and, thus, are clearlywithin the scope of the present disclosure.

Referring now to FIG. 4 , FIG. 4 is a simplified block diagramillustrating an embodiment of a communication system 400 for wirelesscommunication between wearable electronic device 10 and a monitoringdevice. Communication system 400 includes wearable electronic device 10,a first electronic communication device 402, one or more networks 404, aserver 406, a database 408, and a monitoring device 410. In at least oneembodiment, wearable electronic device 10 is in communication with firstelectronic communication device 402 via a first wireless connection. Inat least one embodiment, first electronic communication device 402 is incommunication with network(s) 404 via a second wireless connection. Inparticular embodiments, one or more of the first wireless connection andsecond wireless connection may be any 3G/4G/LTE cellular wireless,WiFi/WiMAX connection, Bluetooth™ or some other similar wirelessconnection.

Network(s) 404 may be a series of points or nodes of interconnectedcommunication paths for receiving and transmitting packets ofinformation that propagate through network(s) 404. Network(s) 404 offersa communicative interface and may include any local area network (LAN),wireless local area network (WLAN), metropolitan area network (MAN),Intranet, Extranet, WAN, virtual private network (VPN), cellular networkor any other appropriate architecture or system that facilitatescommunications in a network environment. Network(s) 404 can comprise anynumber of hardware or software elements coupled to (and in communicationwith) each other through a communications medium. First electroniccommunication device 402 and/or monitoring device 410 may be a computer(e.g., notebook computer, laptop, tablet computer or device), a phablet,a cellphone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a smartphone, a movieplayer of any type, router, access point, another wearable electronicdevice or other device that includes a circuit board coupled to aplurality of electronic components (which includes any type ofcomponents, elements, circuitry, etc.). In one or more embodiments,monitoring device 410 includes a portable and/or wearable electronicdevice. In one or more embodiments, wearable electronic device 10 andfirst electronic communication device 402 are associated with a firstuser, and monitoring device 410 is associated with a second user.

Server 406 is in communication with network(s) 404 and in furthercommunication with database 408. In one or more embodiments, server 406is configured to receive one or more messages transmitted by wearableelectronic device 10 indicative of the general health state of the userassociated with wearable electronic device 10 and store the informationindicative of the general health state of the user in association with adevice identifier associated with wearable electronic device 10. Inalternative embodiments, the general health state of the user may bestored in associated with a user identifier associated with the user ofwearable electronic device 10. Server 406 may be further configured tosend a message including the information indicative of the generalhealth state of the user associated with wearable electronic device 10to monitoring device 410. A second user associated with monitoringdevice 410 may then view the general health information associated withthe first user in a display of monitoring device 410.

In example operations associated with FIG. 4 , wearable electronicdevice 10 may measure health parameters of a first user wearing wearableelectronic device 10 and determine a general health state of the firstuser. Wearable electronic device 10 may then send a first messageindicative of the general health state of the first user to server 406.In one embodiment, wearable electronic device 10 may send the firstmessage to server 406 via direct communication with network(s) 404. Instill another embodiment, wearable electronic device 10 may send thefirst message to first electronic device 10, and first electronic device10 may send the first message to server 406 via network(s) 404. Server406 may then send a second message including information indicative ofthe general health state of the first user to monitoring device 410associated with the second user via network(s) 404. The display ofmonitoring device 10 may then notify the second user by presenting anindication of the general health state of the first user to the seconduser.

In accordance with some embodiments, the second user may utilizemonitoring device 10 to send a follow-up request message to first userfor additional information regarding the health condition of the firstuser. For example, the second user may send the request messageincluding an inquiry of “How are you doing?”. The first user may thenutilize wearable electronic device 10 to send a response messageincluding a response to the inquiry to monitoring device 410. Forexample, the first user may send a response message including a responseof “I am OK” to the second user.

FIG. 5A is a simplified orthographic view illustrating a wearableelectronic device 50 for determining user health status in accordancewith another embodiment of the present disclosure. Wearable electronicdevice 50 can include a strap portion 52 to allow wearable electronicdevice 10 to be worn around a wrist of a user. In the embodimentillustrated in FIG. 5A, wearable electronic device 10 further includes ahousing portion 54 including a display screen 56 disposed on an uppersurface of a housing thereof. Strap portion 52 includes a sensor arrayinclude a plurality of skin sensors 58 a-58 h disposed therein. Skinsensors 58 a-58 h are configured to include an lower sensor surfacefunctioning configured to measure one or more health parameters of auser via contact or proximity of to a skin surface of the user whilebeing worn. In some embodiments, an upper surface of skin sensors 58a-58 h may serve a decorative function for wearable electronic device50. In accordance with various embodiments, housing portion 54 includesa control module in communication with skin sensors 58 a-58 h and havingcomponents, circuitry, and/or logic configured to receive the measuredone or more health parameters, determine a general health state of theuser based upon the received health parameters, and provide feedbackindicative of the determined general health state to the user viadisplay screen 56. In one or more embodiments, one or more of strapportion 52, housing portion 54, and display screen 56 may be composed ofa flexible material to allowing bending to facilitate wearing ofwearable electronic device 50 around the wrist or other body portion ofthe user.

In one or more embodiments, strap portion 52 may be of a solid unibodyconstruction or may include links, chains, cables, weaves, combinationsthereof or the like. In some embodiments, strap 52 of wearableelectronic device 10 can include latch portions to facilitate latchingof wearable electronic device 50. The ornamental design and materialconstruction of strap portion 52 can be adjusted in any manner to suitany designer, manufacturer and/or vendor without departing from thescope of the embodiments described in the present disclosure.

In one or more embodiments, display screen 56 is a screen that can be aliquid crystal display (LCD) screen, transparent LCD screen,light-emitting diode (LED) display screen, transparent LED displayscreen, organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display screen, transparentLED display screen or any other suitable display screen system. Displayscreen 56 may also be a touchscreen display, which may include acapacitive or resistive touchscreen layer over the screen of displayscreen 56.

Wearable electronic device 50 may include ruggedized features, such as aprotective housing portion 54 and a protective display screen 56. Skinsensors 58 a-58 h may also be configured with protective features.Protective housing portion 54, protective display screen 56, and skinsensors 58 a-58 h may be configured to provide water resistance forelectronics (e.g., processors, memory, batteries, display, etc.) forwearable electronic device 50. In one or more embodiments, protectivehousing portion 54, protective display screen 56, and skin sensors 58a-58 h may provide water resistance for up to 200 m. In one or moreembodiments, protective housing portion 54, protective display screen56, and skin sensors 58 a-58 h may be constructed of materials that mayabsorb shocks, knocks, falls, or other forms of impacting forces thatmay be encountered during use of wearable electronic device 50. In oneor more embodiments, the materials used to construct protective bodyprotective housing portion 54 and skin sensors 58 a-58 h may includeplastic, rubber, injection molding, neoprene, carbon fiber, polymer,elastomer, silicone, combinations thereof or the like. In one or moreembodiments, protective display screen 56 may be constructed of materialsuch as plastic, acrylic, polymers, combinations thereof or the likethat may further protect display screen 56 from scratches.

FIG. 5B is a simplified top plan view of wearable electronic device 50in which display screen 56 is shown disposed on the top surface ofhousing portion 54 so that it may be visible when wearable electronicdevice 50 is being worn by the user. FIG. 5C illustrates a simplifiedbottom view of wearable electronic device 50 in which skin sensors 58a-58 h of the sensor array are shown on a bottom surface of strapportion 52 so that it may be in contact with a portion of the skin ofthe user when wearable electronic device 50 is being worn by the user.

In one or more embodiments, wearable electronic device 50 may furtherinclude a wireless communication module configured to communicate thedetermined general health state of the user with other wirelesselectronic devices such a wireless communication device associated withthe user or an electronic communication device associated with anotheruser. In a particular embodiment, the wireless communication module maybe located within housing portion 16. In at least one embodiment,connecting of first clasp portion 14 a to second clasp portion 14 b mayinitiate powering up of wearable electronic device 10. In still otherembodiments, strap portion 12 may be constructed as a generally ringshaped form with an open portion between ends to facilitate placing ofwearable electronic device 10 a upon a wrist of a user. In a particularembodiment, logic associated with wearable electronic device 50 may bethe same as or similar to that described with respect to FIG. 3 forwearable electronic device 10.

FIG. 6 illustrates an embodiment of an example procedure for determininguser health status using wearable electronic device 50 of FIGS. 5A-5C.In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 6 , wearable electronic device 30is worn upon a wrist 30 of a user. The user may initiate a measurementprocedure via a touch input upon a graphical user interface (GUI)provided by display screen 56. In response to the touch input, a controlmodule within housing portion 54 determines one or more sensors 58 a-58h of the sensor array to be utilized to measure one or more healthparameters, and receives a plurality of health parameter measurementsfrom the determined one or more sensors 58 a-58 h. For example, healthparameters measured by one or more of sensors 58 a-58 h may include oneor more of skin health, bone health, blood health, heart rate, oxygenlevels, blood pressure or any other suitable health parameters. Inaccordance with various embodiments, the sensor array may be used toimprove the accuracy of a determined health parameter. For example, thecontrol module may calculate an average value or mean value of thereceived measurements for a particular health parameter, such as heartrate, to determined an overall value for the particular healthparameter.

The control module may be further configured to determine a generalhealth state for the user based upon one or more algorithms using acombination of the received health parameters, and store the generalhealth state in a memory. An example general health state algorithm mayinclude determining whether each health parameters is at an acceptablelevel. If all of the health parameters are measured to be at anacceptable level, the control module may cause display screen toindicate to the user that the user has achieved an optimal “Prime”health state. Alternately, if the general health state of the user isdetermined to be poor, the user may be provided with an indication ofrelative “poor” health. In still other embodiments, the control modulemay be configured to determine whether a particular health parameter iswithin an acceptable range and notify the user via display screen 56 ifthe particular health parameter is not within the acceptable range.

In one or more embodiments, information indicative of the general healthstate of the user and/or other health or body status information may besent to another device either in a surrounding area or to a remotedevice over a network. In a particular embodiment, the informationindicative of the general health state of the user may be sent to asecond device, such as monitoring device 410, configured to store theinformation in a database and alert and/or notify a second user of thesecond device of the general health state of the user of wearableelectronic device 50. The second user may include, in some examples, anurse or doctor at a hospital, or a coach/trainer at an athletic event.In a particular embodiment, wearable electronic device 50 may be used ina communication system the same or similar as communication system 400discussed with respect to FIG. 4 for wearable electronic device 10.

FIG. 7A is a simplified orthographic view illustrating a monitoringdevice 410 for receiving user health status from a wearable electronicdevice in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.Monitoring device 410 can include a strap portion 70 to allow monitoringdevice 10 to be worn around a wrist of a user. In the embodimentillustrated in FIGURE &A, monitoring device 410 includes a plurality ofdisplay screens 72 a-72 d disposed on an upper surface of a strapportion 70. In accordance with various embodiments, strap portion 70includes a wireless communication module configured to communicate withone or more of wearable electronic device 10 and/or wearable electronicdevice 50 to receive a determined general health state and/or otherdetermined health or body parameters or conditions associated with theuser of wearable electronic device 10 and/or wearable electronic device50. Strap portion 70 may further include a control module havingcomponents, circuitry, and/or logic configured to notify a user ofmonitoring device of the received general health state and/or otherhealth/body conditions or parameters via one or more of display screens72 a-72 d. Monitoring device 410 may further include a touch inputdevice 74 disposed upon a surface of strap portion 70 configured toallow the user of monitoring device 410 to provide user inputs towearable electronic device 410.

In one or more embodiments, one or more of strap portion 72 a, displayscreens 72 a-72 d, and touch input device 74 may be composed of aflexible material to allowing bending to facilitate wearing ofmonitoring device 410 around the wrist or other body portion of theuser. In one or more embodiments, strap portion 70 may be of a solidunibody construction or may include links, chains, cables, weaves,combinations thereof or the like. In some embodiments, strap portion 70of monitoring device 410 can include latch portions to facilitatelatching of monitoring device 410. The ornamental design and materialconstruction of monitoring device 410 can be adjusted in any manner tosuit any designer, manufacturer and/or vendor without departing from thescope of the embodiments described in the present disclosure.

In one or more embodiments, one or more of display screens 72 a-72 d maybe a liquid crystal display (LCD) screen, transparent LCD screen,light-emitting diode (LED) display screen, transparent LED displayscreen, organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display screen, transparentLED display screen or any other suitable display screen system. In someembodiments, one or more of display screens 72 a-72 d may also be atouchscreen display, which may include a capacitive or resistivetouchscreen layer over one or more of the screens of display screens 72a-72 d.

FIG. 7B is a simplified top plan view of monitoring device 410 in whichdisplay screens 72 a-72 b and touch input device 74 are shown disposedon the top surface of strap portion 70 so that they may be visibleand/or accessible by the user when monitoring device 410 is being wornby the user. FIG. 5C illustrates a simplified bottom view of monitoringdevice 410.

FIG. 8 illustrates an embodiment of an example procedure for receivinguser health status from wearable electronic device 10/50 usingmonitoring device 410 according to one embodiment. In the embodimentillustrated in FIG. 6 , monitoring device 410 is worn upon a wrist 80 ofa user. In an example operation, wearable electronic device 10 orwearable electronic device 50 sends a first message includinginformation indicative of the health status of the first user associatedwith wearable electronic device 10/50. In a particular embodiment,wearable electronic device 10/50 may send a message if a particularhealth parameter or general health status of the first user isdetermined to be abnormal and/or outside an acceptable range. Uponreceiving the first message, monitoring device 410 provides anindication of the general health state of the first user to the seconduser of monitoring device 410 via one or more of display screens 72 a-72d. In a particular embodiment, the indication may include an iconrepresentative of the general health status of the first user displayedin one or more of display screens 72 a-72 d.

Upon viewing the indication of the general health state of the firstuser, the second user may interact with touch input device 74 toinitiate the sending of a request message by monitoring device 410 tothe first user associated with wearable electronic device 10/50requesting additional information from the first user or requesting theperforming of a particular action by the first user. For example, thesecond user may send a request message including “OK?” or “Please callme.” The first user may then use wearable electronic device 10/50 tosend a response message to monitoring device 410 including the requestedinformation.

Referring now to FIG. 9 , FIG. 9 is a simplified flow diagram 900illustrating potential operations for wearable electronic device 10 inaccordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure. In 902,control module 22 of wearable electronic device 10 receives a pluralityof health parameter measurements from a subset of the plurality ofsensors of sensory array 20 in which each sensor is configured tomeasure at least one health parameter of a first user associated withthe wearable electronic device. In one or more embodiments, the at leastone health parameter includes one or more of skin health, bone health,blood health, heart rate, oxygen levels, and blood pressure. Inparticular embodiments, the subset of the plurality of sensors includesall of the plurality of sensors of sensor array 20.

In 904, control module 22 determines a general health state of the firstuser based upon the received health parameter measurements. Inparticular embodiments, control module 22 is configured to determine thegeneral health state of the first user by determining an overall valuefor one or more particular health parameter measurements, anddetermining whether the overall value of each health parametermeasurement is at an acceptable level.

In 906, display screen 18 provides feedback indicative of the determinedgeneral health state to the first user. In a particular embodiment,display screen 18 provides feedback to the first user indicating thatthe first user has achieved an optimal health state if each of theoverall health parameter measurements are determined to be at anacceptable level. In 908, wearable electronic device 10 sends a firstmessage including information indicative of the general health state toan electronic device associated with a second user. In a particularembodiment, the electronic device associated with the second userincludes another wearable electronic device such as monitoring device410.

In 910, wearable electronic device 10 receives a second message from theelectronic device associated with the second user that includes arequest for additional information from the first user. In 912, wearableelectronic device 10 sends a third message to the electronic deviceassociated with the second user in which the third message includes therequested additional information from the first user. The procedure thenends.

The example means and method described above are only a few of the manymeans and methods that may be used to communicate using wearablecommunication devices 10 and 50. Virtually any other means could beused, and, thus are clearly within the scope of the present disclosure.

Note that in some example implementations, the functions outlined hereinmay be implemented in conjunction with logic that is encoded in one ormore tangible, non-transitory media (e.g., embedded logic provided in anapplication-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), in digital signalprocessor (DSP) instructions, software [potentially inclusive of objectcode and source code] to be executed by a processor, or other similarmachine, etc.). In some of these instances, memory elements can storedata used for the operations described herein. This can include thememory elements being able to store software, logic, code, or processorinstructions that are executed to carry out the activities describedherein. A processor can execute any type of instructions associated withthe data to achieve the operations detailed herein. In one example, theprocessors could transform an element or an article (e.g., data) fromone state or thing to another state or thing. In another example, theactivities outlined herein may be implemented with fixed logic orprogrammable logic (e.g., software/computer instructions executed by aprocessor) and the elements identified herein could be some type of aprogrammable processor, programmable digital logic (e.g., a fieldprogrammable gate array (FPGA), a DSP, an erasable programmable readonly memory (EPROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory(EEPROM)) or an ASIC that can include digital logic, software, code,electronic instructions, or any suitable combination thereof.

Program instructions may be used to cause a general-purpose orspecial-purpose processing system that is programmed with theinstructions to perform the operations described herein. Alternatively,the operations may be performed by specific hardware components thatcontain hardwired logic for performing the operations, or by anycombination of programmed computer components and custom hardwarecomponents. The methods described herein may be provided as a computerprogram product that may include one or more non-transitory, tangible,machine readable media having stored thereon instructions that may beused to program a processing system or other electronic device toperform the methods. The term “machine readable medium” used hereinshall include any medium that is capable of storing or encoding asequence of instructions for execution by the machine and that cause themachine to perform any one of the methods described herein. The term“non-transitory machine readable medium” shall accordingly include, butnot be limited to, memories* such as solid-state memories, optical andmagnetic disks. Furthermore, it is common in the art to speak ofsoftware, in one form or another (e.g., program, procedure, process,application, module, logic, and so on) as taking an action or causing aresult. Such expressions are merely a shorthand way of stating that theexecution of the software by a processing system causes the processor toperform an action or produce a result.

It is imperative to note that all of the specifications, dimensions, andrelationships outlined herein (e.g., width, length, thickness,materials, etc.) have only been offered for purposes of example andteaching only. Each of these data may be varied considerably withoutdeparting from the spirit of the present disclosure, or the scope of theappended claims. The specifications apply only to one non-limitingexample and, accordingly, they should be construed as such. In theforegoing description, example embodiments have been described. Variousmodifications and changes may be made to such embodiments withoutdeparting from the scope of the appended claims. The description anddrawings are, accordingly, to be regarded in an illustrative rather thana restrictive sense.

Numerous other changes, substitutions, variations, alterations, andmodifications may be ascertained to one skilled in the art and it isintended that the present disclosure encompass all such changes,substitutions, variations, alterations, and modifications as fallingwithin the scope of the appended claims. In order to assist the UnitedStates Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and, additionally, anyreaders of any patent issued on this application in interpreting theclaims appended hereto, Applicant wishes to note that the Applicant: (a)does not intend any of the appended claims to invoke paragraph six (6)of 35 U.S.C. section 112 as it exists on the date of the filing hereofunless the words “means for” or “step for” are specifically used in theparticular claims; and (b) does not intend, by any statement in thespecification, to limit this disclosure in any way that is not otherwisereflected in the appended claims.

Example Embodiment Implementations

The following examples pertain to embodiments in accordance with thisSpecification. Note that all optional features of the apparatuses andsystems described above may also be implemented with respect to themethod or process described herein and specifics in the examples may beused anywhere in one or more embodiments.

Example 1 is a wearable electronic device, comprising: a plurality ofsensors configured to measure at least one health parameter of a firstuser associated with the wearable electronic device; and a controlmodule in communication with the plurality of sensors, the controlmodule including a processor configured to: receive a plurality ofhealth parameter measurements from at least a subset of the plurality ofsensors; and determine a general health state of the first user basedupon the received health parameter measurements.

In Example 2, the subject matter of any of Example 1 can optionallyinclude a display configured to provide feedback indicative of thedetermined general health state to the first user.

In Example 3, the subject matter of any of Examples 1-2 can optionallyinclude wherein the processor is further configured to send a firstmessage including information indicative of the general health state toan electronic device associated with a second user.

In Example 4, the subject matter of any of Examples 1-3 can optionallyinclude wherein the processor is further configured to receive a secondmessage from the electronic device associated with the second user,wherein the second message includes a request for additional informationfrom the first user.

In Example 5, the subject matter of any of Examples 1˜4 can optionallyinclude wherein the processor is further configured to send a thirdmessage to the electronic device associated with the second user,wherein the third message includes the requested additional informationfrom the first user.

In Example 6, the subject matter of any of Examples 1-3 can optionallyinclude wherein the electronic device associated with the second userincludes another wearable electronic device.

In Example 7, the subject matter of any of Examples 1-6 can optionallyinclude wherein the processor is further configured to determine thegeneral health state of the first user by determining an overall valuefor one or more particular health parameter measurements, anddetermining whether the overall value of each health parametermeasurement is at an acceptable level.

In Example 8, the subject matter of any of Examples 1-7 can optionallyinclude wherein the processor is further configured to provide feedbackto the first user indicating that the first user has achieved an optimalhealth state if each of the overall health parameter measurements aredetermined to be at an acceptable level.

In Example 9, the subject matter of any of Examples 1-8 can optionallyinclude a strap portion, wherein the plurality of sensors are disposedupon a portion of a surface of the strap portion.

In Example 10, the subject matter of any of Examples 1-9 can optionallyinclude wherein the plurality of health measurements are associated withone or more health parameters of the user, wherein each health parameteris configured to be measured at a plurality of locations upon thesurface of the strap portion.

In Example 11, the subject matter of any of Examples 1-10 can optionallyinclude wherein the plurality of sensors comprise a sensor array.

In Example 12, the subject matter of any of Examples 1-11 can optionallyinclude wherein at least one of the plurality of sensors includes atleast one of a skin sensor, a temperature sensor, a pulse sensor and agalvanic skin response sensor.

In Example 13, the subject matter of any of Examples 1-12 can optionallyinclude wherein the at least one health parameter includes one or moreof body temperature, air temperature, pulse, galvanic skin response,skin health, bone health, blood health, heart rate, oxygen level, andblood pressure.

Example 14 is a wearable electronic device comprising a plurality ofsensors configured to measure at least one health parameter of a firstuser associated with the wearable electronic device, and a controlmodule in communication with the plurality of sensors with the controlmodule including logic, at least a portion of which is partiallyimplemented in hardware, the logic configured to: receive a plurality ofhealth parameter measurements from at least a subset of the plurality ofsensors; and determine a general health state of the first user basedupon the received health parameter measurements.

In Example 15, the subject matter of Example 14 can optionally includewherein the logic further comprises: at least one processor; and atleast one memory.

In Example 16, the subject matter of any of Examples 14-15 canoptionally include a display configured to provide feedback indicativeof the determined general health state to the first user.

In Example 17, the subject matter of any of Examples 15-16 canoptionally include wherein the logic is further configured to send afirst message including information indicative of the general healthstate to an electronic device associated with a second user.

In Example 18, the subject matter of Example 17 can optionally includewherein the logic is further configured to receive a second message fromthe electronic device associated with the second user, wherein thesecond message includes a request for additional information from thefirst user.

In Example 19, the subject matter of Example 18 can optionally includewherein the logic is further configured to send a third message to theelectronic device associated with the second user, wherein the thirdmessage includes the requested additional information from the firstuser.

In Example 20, the subject matter of any of Examples 14-19 canoptionally include wherein the logic is further configured to determinethe general health state of the first user by determining an overallvalue for one or more particular health parameter measurements, anddetermining whether the overall value of each health parametermeasurement is at an acceptable level.

In Example 21, the subject matter of Example 20 can optionally includewherein the logic is further configured to provide feedback to the firstuser indicating that the first user has achieved an optimal health stateif each of the overall health parameter measurements are determined tobe at an acceptable level.

Example 22 is at least one computer readable storage medium comprisinginstructions, wherein the instructions when executed by at least oneprocessor cause the at least one processor to: receive a plurality ofhealth parameter measurements from at least a subset of a plurality ofsensors of a wearable electronic device, wherein each of the pluralityof sensors is configured to measure at least one health parameter of afirst user associated with the wearable electronic device; anddetermine, by the wearable electronic device, a general health state ofthe first user based upon the received health parameter measurements.

In Example 23, the subject matter of Example 22 can optionally includewherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor,further cause the at least one processor to provide feedback indicativeof the determined general health state to the first user.

In Example 24, the subject matter of any of Examples 22-23 canoptionally include wherein the instructions, when executed by the atleast one processor, further cause the at least one processor to send afirst message including information indicative of the general healthstate to an electronic device associated with a second user.

In Example 25, the subject matter of Example 24 can optionally includewherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor,further cause the at least one processor to receive a second messagefrom the electronic device associated with the second user, wherein thesecond message includes a request for additional information from thefirst user.

In Example 26, the subject matter of any of Examples 22-25 canoptionally include wherein the instructions, when executed by the atleast one processor, further cause the at least one processor todetermine the general health state of the first user by determining anoverall value for one or more particular health parameter measurements,and determining whether the overall value of each health parametermeasurement is at an acceptable level.

In Example 27, the subject matter of Example 26 can optionally includewherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor,further cause the at least one processor to provide feedback to thefirst user indicating that the first user has achieved an optimal healthstate if each of the overall health parameter measurements aredetermined to be at an acceptable level.

Example 28 is a method comprising: receiving a plurality of healthparameter measurements from at least a subset of a plurality of sensorsof a wearable electronic device, wherein each of the plurality ofsensors is configured to measure at least one health parameter of afirst user associated with the wearable electronic device; anddetermining, by the wearable electronic device, a general health stateof the first user based upon the received health parameter measurements.

In Example 29, the subject matter of Example 28 can optionally includeproviding feedback indicative of the determined general health state tothe first user.

In Example 30, the subject matter of any of Examples 28-29 canoptionally include sending a first message including informationindicative of the general health state to an electronic deviceassociated with a second user.

In Example 31, the subject matter of Example 30 can optionally includereceiving a second message from the electronic device associated withthe second user, wherein the second message includes a request foradditional information from the first user.

In Example 32, the subject matter of any of Examples 28-31 canoptionally include determining the general health state of the firstuser by determining an overall value for one or more particular healthparameter measurements, and determining whether the overall value ofeach health parameter measurement is at an acceptable level.

In Example 33, the subject matter of Example 32 can optionally includeproviding feedback to the first user indicating that the first user hasachieved an optimal health state if each of the overall health parametermeasurements are determined to be at an acceptable level.

Example 34 is an apparatus comprising means for performing the method ofany one of Examples 28-33.

In Example 35, the subject matter of Example 34 can optionally includewherein the means for performing the method comprise a processor and amemory.

In Example 36, the subject of Example 35 can optionally include whereinthe memory comprises machine readable instructions, that when executedcause the apparatus to perform the method of any one of Examples 28-33.

In Example 37, the subject matter of any of Examples 34-36 canoptionally include wherein the apparatus is a computing system.

Example 38 is at least one computer readable medium comprisinginstructions that, when executed, implement a method or realize anapparatus as described in any one of Examples 1-21 or 28-37.

Example 39 is an apparatus comprising: means for receiving a pluralityof health parameter measurements from at least a subset of a pluralityof sensors of a wearable electronic device, wherein each of theplurality of sensors is configured to measure at least one healthparameter of a first user associated with the wearable electronicdevice; and determining, by the wearable electronic device, a generalhealth state of the first user based upon the received health parametermeasurements.

In Example 40, the subject matter of Example 39 can optionally includemeans for providing feedback indicative of the determined general healthstate to the first user.

In Example 41, the subject matter of any of Examples 39-40 canoptionally include means for sending a first message includinginformation indicative of the general health state to an electronicdevice associated with a second user.

In Example 42, the subject matter of any of Examples 39-41 canoptionally include means for receiving a second message from theelectronic device associated with the second user, wherein the secondmessage includes a request for additional information from the firstuser.

In Example 43, the subject matter of any of Examples 39-42 canoptionally include means for determining the general health state of thefirst user by determining an overall value for one or more particularhealth parameter measurements, and determining whether the overall valueof each health parameter measurement is at an acceptable level.

In Example 44, the subject matter of Example 43 can optionally includemeans for providing feedback to the first user indicating that the firstuser has achieved an optimal health state if each of the overall healthparameter measurements are determined to be at an acceptable level.

1. A wearable electronic device, comprising: a plurality of sensorsconfigured to measure at least one health parameter of a first userassociated with the wearable electronic device; and a control module incommunication with the plurality of sensors, the control moduleincluding a processor configured to: receive a plurality of healthparameter measurements from at least a subset of the plurality ofsensors; and determine a general health state of the first user basedupon the received health parameter measurements. 2-25. (canceled)